Training royal horses for warfare in the Middle Ages was a highly specialized process, blending careful selection, systematic training, and sophisticated handling techniques. These horses were essential to medieval warfare, acting as both tools of battle and symbols of prestige. Their journey from colts to combat-ready mounts showcases the remarkable fusion of science, tradition, and skill in medieval horse training.
Selection: Identifying the Ideal Warhorse
Not every colt bred in royal studs was destined for battle. The selection process was rigorous, overseen by experienced stud keepers who evaluated young horses for both physical fitness and temperamental compatibility. Attributes such as strong musculature, proportional conformation, and short backs were prized, as they provided the strength and agility necessary for combat.
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Character was equally important. Medieval hippiatric treatises (equine veterinary manuals) emphasized boldness tempered by obedience, ensuring that warhorses were both courageous in battle and manageable under a rider. The author Laurentius Rusius (d. 1347) advised assessing temperaments through physical signs, such as flared nostrils and firm skin. Pulling hard on a horse’s tail was one way to test its mental caliber. If the horse did not step back or kick out, then it demonstrated the fortitude for warfare. Only horses with the right physical and mental traits were deemed worthy of extensive training.
Early Training: From Colts to Riding Horses
Training began when colts reached two to two-and-a-half years of age. Following hippiatric advice, initial handling focused on taming and halter training. Colts were desensitized to human touch and fitted with hobbles to safely introduce them to basic handling. Their hooves were lifted and tapped to simulate the actions of a farrier. Tools like traynels (soft leg restraints) ensured safety while familiarizing horses with equipment.
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The introduction of bits and bridles marked the next stage. Bits were often smeared with honey to create positive associations. The training process involved gentle handling to build trust, emphasizing the horse’s welfare. Once comfortable, colts were introduced to carrying riders and began learning basic movements like walking and turning.
Although royal stud keepers were invariably men, some of the people employed to carry out the early training of medieval horses were women. Extant records for the manor of Otley, West Yorkshire, show that in 1307 Sir Ralph Pagnell’s colts were broken in by one of his female tenants, Marjorie Scot.
Advanced Training: Preparing for Battle
Training practice. Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 22971, Le secret de l’histoire naturelle contenant les merveilles et choses mémorables du monde, fol. 9v.
Warhorses required specialized preparation for the battlefield, including desensitization to weapons and commotion. Training methods would have involved gradual exposure. For example, horses were probably introduced to lances and swords first from the ground and later from the saddle. They were ridden through busy towns and past blacksmith shops and slaughterhouses to accustom them to new sounds and the smell of blood. Hippiatric writers advised gently coaxing nervous horses forward rather than using a whip. Riding in these controlled environments allowed trainers to build horses’ confidence without overwhelming the animals.
Horses were trained to maintain balance and agility under challenging conditions, ensuring they could perform effectively in the heat of battle. Techniques like riding over uneven terrain and turning tightly at speed developed their coordination and strength. Commands to move on specific leading legs were practiced to enable sharp maneuvers, essential for cavalry charges and tactical retreats.
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Tools and Equipment: Aiding the Training Process
Medieval horse training involved tools and techniques, some of which resonate with modern practices. In the 14th century, the equipment bought for each royal colt included a surcingle (a strap made of leather or material that fastens around a horse’s girth) and a pair of loygnis (long ropes). This suggests medieval horse trainers used sophisticated groundwork exercises like lungeing and long lining. Lungeing involves working a horse in a controlled circle at the end of a rope, simulating rein contact, and building familiarity with cues for direction and pace. Long lining, where the handler drives the horse from behind using paired ropes, teaches essential movements like turning and collection while desensitizing the animal to tactile stimuli. Both techniques were pivotal for preparing horses for mounted roles and remain foundational in equine training today.
Horse undergoing phlebotomy. Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Espagnol 214, El libro de menescalcia, fol 37v.
Horses were bled 3-4 times a year using a fleam, with up to 2 liters of blood drawn from a vein in the neck. This practice, aimed at preventing congested humors from thickening the blood and causing illness, formed part of their regular healthcare. Specialist horse doctors were paid 8 pence a day to perform this task.
Dental care was another critical aspect. Hippiatric authors recommended removing a horse’s canines and other teeth to ensure bits fit comfortably, minimizing pain and improving control. A horse was rolled onto its back and its legs firmly tied to extract the teeth. It was likely sedated: Laurentius described a concoction of red wine, mandrake, opium, and henbane seeds that rendered horses insensible for an entire day, allowing procedures to be performed safely.
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Medieval horse keepers’ attention to prophylactic health care and dentistry reflects their concern with maintaining warhorses in peak condition, ensuring they were always ready for combat.
The Final Stages: Battlefield Readiness
Horses were expected to be fully functional mounts by the age of five. Tournaments and mock battles provided essential practice for warhorses and their riders. Quintains—rotating targets struck with a lance—helped horses acclimate to the sounds and movements of combat. Mêlées and bohorts, or team-based mock battles, trained knights and horses to maintain formation and execute tactical maneuvers.
These rigorous exercises ensured that horses were both physically prepared and mentally conditioned to endure the chaos of battle. Successful training enhanced a knight’s effectiveness and safety, underscoring the warhorse’s pivotal role in medieval warfare.
Modern Parallels and Legacy
Many medieval training techniques resonate with modern equestrian practices. Groundwork exercises, desensitization methods, and incremental training reflect an enduring understanding of horse psychology and biomechanics. The emphasis on welfare and trust-building in training is a testament to the timeless relationship between humans and horses.
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The warhorse’s journey from colt to battlefield exemplifies the medieval commitment to mastery and innovation. These horses were more than tools of war; they were reflections of their handlers’ skill and the era’s ingenuity, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire equestrian traditions today.
Dr Emma Herbert-Davies is a graduate of the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds, UK. She is a keen horsewoman and has published several articles and book chapters on medieval horses. Her upcoming book, The Warhorse in England: 1272-1327, will be published by Trivent Publishing this February.
By Emma Herbert-Davies
Training royal horses for warfare in the Middle Ages was a highly specialized process, blending careful selection, systematic training, and sophisticated handling techniques. These horses were essential to medieval warfare, acting as both tools of battle and symbols of prestige. Their journey from colts to combat-ready mounts showcases the remarkable fusion of science, tradition, and skill in medieval horse training.
Selection: Identifying the Ideal Warhorse
Not every colt bred in royal studs was destined for battle. The selection process was rigorous, overseen by experienced stud keepers who evaluated young horses for both physical fitness and temperamental compatibility. Attributes such as strong musculature, proportional conformation, and short backs were prized, as they provided the strength and agility necessary for combat.
Character was equally important. Medieval hippiatric treatises (equine veterinary manuals) emphasized boldness tempered by obedience, ensuring that warhorses were both courageous in battle and manageable under a rider. The author Laurentius Rusius (d. 1347) advised assessing temperaments through physical signs, such as flared nostrils and firm skin. Pulling hard on a horse’s tail was one way to test its mental caliber. If the horse did not step back or kick out, then it demonstrated the fortitude for warfare. Only horses with the right physical and mental traits were deemed worthy of extensive training.
Early Training: From Colts to Riding Horses
Training began when colts reached two to two-and-a-half years of age. Following hippiatric advice, initial handling focused on taming and halter training. Colts were desensitized to human touch and fitted with hobbles to safely introduce them to basic handling. Their hooves were lifted and tapped to simulate the actions of a farrier. Tools like traynels (soft leg restraints) ensured safety while familiarizing horses with equipment.
The introduction of bits and bridles marked the next stage. Bits were often smeared with honey to create positive associations. The training process involved gentle handling to build trust, emphasizing the horse’s welfare. Once comfortable, colts were introduced to carrying riders and began learning basic movements like walking and turning.
Although royal stud keepers were invariably men, some of the people employed to carry out the early training of medieval horses were women. Extant records for the manor of Otley, West Yorkshire, show that in 1307 Sir Ralph Pagnell’s colts were broken in by one of his female tenants, Marjorie Scot.
Advanced Training: Preparing for Battle
Warhorses required specialized preparation for the battlefield, including desensitization to weapons and commotion. Training methods would have involved gradual exposure. For example, horses were probably introduced to lances and swords first from the ground and later from the saddle. They were ridden through busy towns and past blacksmith shops and slaughterhouses to accustom them to new sounds and the smell of blood. Hippiatric writers advised gently coaxing nervous horses forward rather than using a whip. Riding in these controlled environments allowed trainers to build horses’ confidence without overwhelming the animals.
Horses were trained to maintain balance and agility under challenging conditions, ensuring they could perform effectively in the heat of battle. Techniques like riding over uneven terrain and turning tightly at speed developed their coordination and strength. Commands to move on specific leading legs were practiced to enable sharp maneuvers, essential for cavalry charges and tactical retreats.
Tools and Equipment: Aiding the Training Process
Medieval horse training involved tools and techniques, some of which resonate with modern practices. In the 14th century, the equipment bought for each royal colt included a surcingle (a strap made of leather or material that fastens around a horse’s girth) and a pair of loygnis (long ropes). This suggests medieval horse trainers used sophisticated groundwork exercises like lungeing and long lining. Lungeing involves working a horse in a controlled circle at the end of a rope, simulating rein contact, and building familiarity with cues for direction and pace. Long lining, where the handler drives the horse from behind using paired ropes, teaches essential movements like turning and collection while desensitizing the animal to tactile stimuli. Both techniques were pivotal for preparing horses for mounted roles and remain foundational in equine training today.
Horses were bled 3-4 times a year using a fleam, with up to 2 liters of blood drawn from a vein in the neck. This practice, aimed at preventing congested humors from thickening the blood and causing illness, formed part of their regular healthcare. Specialist horse doctors were paid 8 pence a day to perform this task.
Dental care was another critical aspect. Hippiatric authors recommended removing a horse’s canines and other teeth to ensure bits fit comfortably, minimizing pain and improving control. A horse was rolled onto its back and its legs firmly tied to extract the teeth. It was likely sedated: Laurentius described a concoction of red wine, mandrake, opium, and henbane seeds that rendered horses insensible for an entire day, allowing procedures to be performed safely.
Medieval horse keepers’ attention to prophylactic health care and dentistry reflects their concern with maintaining warhorses in peak condition, ensuring they were always ready for combat.
The Final Stages: Battlefield Readiness
Horses were expected to be fully functional mounts by the age of five. Tournaments and mock battles provided essential practice for warhorses and their riders. Quintains—rotating targets struck with a lance—helped horses acclimate to the sounds and movements of combat. Mêlées and bohorts, or team-based mock battles, trained knights and horses to maintain formation and execute tactical maneuvers.
These rigorous exercises ensured that horses were both physically prepared and mentally conditioned to endure the chaos of battle. Successful training enhanced a knight’s effectiveness and safety, underscoring the warhorse’s pivotal role in medieval warfare.
Modern Parallels and Legacy
Many medieval training techniques resonate with modern equestrian practices. Groundwork exercises, desensitization methods, and incremental training reflect an enduring understanding of horse psychology and biomechanics. The emphasis on welfare and trust-building in training is a testament to the timeless relationship between humans and horses.
The warhorse’s journey from colt to battlefield exemplifies the medieval commitment to mastery and innovation. These horses were more than tools of war; they were reflections of their handlers’ skill and the era’s ingenuity, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire equestrian traditions today.
Dr Emma Herbert-Davies is a graduate of the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds, UK. She is a keen horsewoman and has published several articles and book chapters on medieval horses. Her upcoming book, The Warhorse in England: 1272-1327, will be published by Trivent Publishing this February.
See also: How to Buy a Medieval Warhorse
Top Image: British Library MS Sloane 2430 fol. 2v
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